Many of the Salton Sea's most
spectacular birds are routinely shot as pests, and the federal agency
charged with their protection approves the killing.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
has authorized killing 3,287 birds in the Salton Sea area since 1987.
Nine operators of commercial fish-rearing ponds near the sea sought
and received the so-called depredation permits to stop birds from
eating into their profits, governments documents show.

Great blue herons, double-crested
cormorants, black-crowned night herons and various egrets account for
two-thirds of the birds targeted for eradication.

Those species are in sharp decline at
the Salton Sea. Yet the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1991 approved
killing 1,202 of them -- 50 percent more than allowed in 1987, the
records show.

The numbers do not include birds
killed illegally or birds killed by people who exceed their
quota.

Toxic pollution, rising salinity and
fewer fish in the sea contribute to bird deaths. But shooters, too,
make a helluva dent" in the population, said Norm Hogg, biologist at
Santa Monica College who has studied birds at the Salton Sea since
1969.

"I think it's absurd," Hogg said.
"Bumping off those birds of course is going to have an
impact."

Fish farmers, as they sometimes call
themselves, say they have no choice. The birds have voracious
appetites and gobble catfish and trout unmercifully.

At best, the predators are a
nuisance. At worst, they are a threat to the farmers' economic
survival.

Three years ago, "hundreds of birds,"
including fish-chomping white pelicans, raided Valley fish Farm in
Brawley, a supplier of catfish to restaurants and two Riverside
County lakes, said company manager Ted Kasckow.

The birds devoured about 300,000
fish, nearly forcing the company out of business.

"It was like war. We were up 24 hours
a day chasing birds away," Kasckow said. "We tried
everything."

Net-like fences around the ponds and
lines stretched across the water failed to deter the dive-bombing
predators.

"I think it's absurd.
Bumping off those birds of course is going to have an
impact."

Norm Hogg,
biologist at Santa Monica College who
has studied birds at the Salton Sea since
1969

Air horns, radio-controlled air
planes, rubber sharks, an ultralight aircraft, even boom boxes on
loan from a local low-rider club could not stop the aerial
assault.

Killing the birds was the only
alternative, Kasckow said. Valley Fish Farms as permitted to kill 50
cormorants, 15 great blue herons and 50 Caspian terns last
year.

"It's no different than a rancher
trying to protect lambs or calves from coyotes," Kasckow
said.

George Ray, co-owner of Fish
Producers of California in Niland, said the bandit birds cost his
company about $30,000 a year.

The law enforcement arm of the Fish
and Wildlife Service defends the practice.

Only a limited number of birds can be
shot. Permit holders are required to provide annual reports tallying
the number of birds killed, though a review of the records shows some
do not. And in most cases the permits require aquaculture operations
to first try hazing to keep the birds away, and shooting only as a
last resort.

Nets stretched across the fishponds
considered the most foolproof bird deterrent, are not required. The
fish farmers say they are too expensive.

Abuses
occur.

In 1989, Ray and tow other fish
Producers employees illegally shot 225 birds, including brown
pelicans, an endangered species. A federal magistrate fined the
company $25,000 in 1991. Ray and the two employees paid $17,000 in
penalties and received two years' probation for violation of the
Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Fish Producers received a renewed
permit to kill birds five weeks after they pleaded guilty.